Season 5 Episode 1: Should Entrepreneurs have a Life Coach? Part 1

Do entrepreneurs need a Life Coach?  What’s the difference between a Life Coach and a therapist?  Learn all this and more as Season 5 of Coaching and a Cup of Tea with Mummabear begins.  Master Certified Life Coach Melissa Wiggins takes you inside her EmpoweredLife mastermind coaching program as she chats with clients Diana Gleason and Karen Moreno.  Grab and cuppa and listen in!

Learn more about Diana at  www.dianagleason.com and follow her on IG: @dg.consulting.services

 Visit Karen’s studio: barmethod.com & follow them on IG: @barmethodwinterpark

EmpoweredLife Mastermind Round 2 begins soon – Learn more at melissawiggins.life

Follow Melissa @coachmummabear_

Remember to leave an honest review and subscribe to “Coaching and a Cup of Tea with Mummabear” 

#lifecoach #beliefs #masterlifecoach #mastermind

Melissa Wiggins:

Hello lassies and lads.  Welcome to a very special episode of Coaching and a Cup of Tea with Mummabear. I am so excited because I have two of my amazeballs clients.  They are entrepreneurs, they are working mums, and in this episode I actually ended up splittin it into two, a part and a part two, ‘cause there’s just so much good stuff in it.  You’re gonna hear about in this first part, the ripples that have came in their life from being in coaching, you’re gonna hear a little bit about the difference between a therapist and a coach, you’re going to hear about my self-coaching model, how they got intentional in their life and some of the biggest wins.  You’re gonna love it. Stay tuned to listen to two of the most incredible lassies that I have ever met.

(Music)

Melissa: Hey, welcome to Coaching and a Cup of Tea with Mummabear. I'm so excited because I actually have guests today. Oh my gosh. Lucky me. I'm not just talking by myself in my office, which happens most of the time. But I have two incredible guests who are a part of Empowered Life. And today we're going to talk all about Empowered Life, what has happened in their life since they started coaching, why they started this coaching program, and why they're going to do it again. So Diana Gleason, why don't you introduce yourself, beautiful lassie?

Diana Gleason: Hi, my name is Diana Gleason. I am the owner of DG Consulting Services. It is a remote bookkeeping firm for small businesses. I happen to also be a very busy mama. I have twin seven year old boys. And I'm a wife. And I do all the things.

Melissa: You really do do all the things. It's amazing. I love it. And also the best keeper in the world and also my bookkeeper. So you must hire her immediately.

Diana Gleason: Thank you.

Melissa: And we also have beautiful, beautiful Karen. Why don't you introduce yourself, Karen?

Karen Marino: Hi everyone. My name is Karen Marino and I own a fitness studio called the Bar Method. It's a workout that uses a ballet bar as a tool. You don't have to know ballet or dance at all. It's made for the common folk, like me and you. And I've owned it for almost 11 years, which I cannot believe. 

Find the FULL transcript here: Season 5 Episode 1: Should Entrepreneurs Have a Life Coach, Part 1

Transcript

Melissa Wiggins:

Hello lassies and lads.  Welcome to a very special episode of Coaching and a Cup of Tea with Mummabear. I am so excited because I have two of my amazeballs clients.  They are entrepreneurs, they are working mums, and in this episode I actually ended up splittin it into two, a part and a part two, ‘cause there’s just so much good stuff in it.  You’re gonna hear about in this first part, the ripples that have came in their life from being in coaching, you’re gonna hear a little bit about the difference between a therapist and a coach, you’re going to hear about my self-coaching model, how they got intentional in their life and some of the biggest wins.  You’re gonna love it. Stay tuned to listen to two of the most incredible lassies that I have ever met.

(Music)

Melissa:

Hey, welcome to Coaching and a Cup of Tea with Mummabear. I'm so excited because I actually have guests today. Oh my gosh. Lucky me. I'm not just talking by myself in my office, which happens most of the time. But I have two incredible guests who are a part of Empowered Life. And today we're going to talk all about Empowered Life, what has happened in their life since they started coaching, why they started this coaching program, and why they're going to do it again. So Diana Gleason, why don't you introduce yourself, beautiful lassie?

Diana Gleason:

Hi, my name is Diana Gleason. I am the owner of DG Consulting Services. It is a remote bookkeeping firm for small businesses. I happen to also be a very busy mama. I have twin seven year old boys. And I'm a wife. And I do all the things.

Melissa:

You really do do all the things. It's amazing. I love it. And also the best keeper in the world and also my bookkeeper. So you must hire her immediately.

Diana Gleason:

Thank you.

Melissa:

And we also have beautiful, beautiful Karen. Why don't you introduce yourself, Karen?

Karen Marino:

Hi everyone. My name is Karen Marino and I own a fitness studio called the Bar Method. It's a workout that uses a ballet bar as a tool. You don't have to know ballet or dance at all. It's made for the common folk, like me and you. And I've owned it for almost 11 years, which I cannot believe. When I started it, I had young kids. And now my kids are all grown and living away from us, which is sad and good all at once. 

Melissa:

I'm so glad both of you are here and I will be linking up, in our show notes, everything you need to know about these beautiful, incredible lassies. So one of the things I really wanted to dig into, and I want to start with you, Karen, because you had some hesitancy on getting a life coach. And you had so many questions at the beginning that made me realize that not everybody really understands what a life coach is for, what is the power of doing a program as a group? Why would you do it? And they were such good questions, but it also was like a light bulb for me of like, "Oh, there's so many people that have never had a coach before and don't really know what life coaching is." And I remember when you sent me a message and you were like, "Okay, yes. I'm in. I'm going to do it. I don't really know what it is, but I'm doing it." And so, I would love to just you to share what made you say yes. Are you glad you said yes? Hopefully, yes. And what would you say to someone who is thinking about doing the next round of Empowered Life in August that is maybe having some similar questions to you had in the beginning?

Karen Marino:

Sure. Yes. I, of course, ended up doing it mainly because of you, Melissa, because of just your enthusiasm for life. And I just was drawn to you. And it was just a feeling I had inside of me. I'm not that familiar with life coaching, or I wasn't before until you and this group, but it was something that I just felt drawn to doing at this crossroads in my life, becoming an empty nester, signing on for another franchise agreement and lease. It just seemed like the perfect time in my life to be able to refocus my energy now that I wasn't giving so much energy to my children, like where you are, Diana. A very different phase of life. And I wanted to be able to focus more on me and what I'm doing to better myself, better my business, better my relationships, all of those things that I now have that precious time back, to some degree, to do those things.

Karen Marino:

And like I said, I just feel like you, Melissa, are such a dynamic person, and I've been inspired by you without even knowing you for years. So when I saw your Instagram posts about this new mastermind coaching group you were doing, I was like, "Hmm." And after talking to you, and thinking about it, and talking with my husband, it just felt right. And I'm so glad I did it. There's no question. So don't worry about that. Of course, I have absolutely loved it. It really just, in this short amount of time, has completely changed my life for the better, in so many ways. I feel like it's just opened my eyes to how to look at life, and go for the things that I want to go for. So there was just so many things. I know we're going to get into those details about how it did that in this podcast. And like I've said before, I wish I could have done this at your phase of life, Diana. I am envious of you for getting to do this at a different phase of life, and younger, because I feel like it's enriched my life so much that I feel fortunate it's happened now, I wish I could have done it sooner.

Melissa:

But I think that's what's so beautiful, right? And that was one of the reasons why I wanted you both on at the same time as you are. You're both business women, you're both moms. And even though your kids are out of the house, Karen, and you're sharing everything you're learning with them when they're off doing these big, incredible... I have chills in my arms just thinking about your son in New York, and just the way you're passing it on at this stage, it's beautiful. And then versus Diana, who's doing it with her twin seven year olds. It's just like you can have the impact at both stages of life. It's never too late to be doing this work, ever. And the impact in your life is equally as beautiful and big as the 23 year old we have in the program, who's starting a company, right?

Diana Gleason:

Yeah.

Karen Marino:

And I do think that too, that I can give this to my kids and normalize for them having a life coach, and thinking about self growth, and those things that I just did not have access to those tools when I was in my young twenties. And now, even though sometimes they roll my eyes at my texts, or roll their eyes at my texts, the little eye roll emoji. I know they appreciate it. And they've played along with some things now. So I feel like baby steps to all of this for them.

Melissa:

And it's the same old story, right? They watch what we do, right? It's like if you want someone in your life to do something, it's not about necessarily asking them or teaching them. It is about showing them, right? And both of you are living examples of doing the actual work that just ultimately inspires people around you. And also, at the same time, helps you get super clear on who is going to be your inner circle, right? Who are going to be the people that are close to you through the next stage. And I think the biggest thing I see with both of you is that you both got very, very intentional about what you were doing and why, for sure.

Diana Gleason:

100%. 100%. I feel like, through coaching, my time is intentional with every hour of my day, and that started in month one, when we started talking about our values. And we dug in, and filtered them out, and I was like, "Wow, these are my values." And then it was like, "Okay, your values need to show up in your calendar every single day. And if they don't, then you need to delete what's going on because it's not an alignment with you. And that, for me, was so eyeopening. And it's something that I've carried on now with me almost six months that, if activities, or people, or business engagements aren't aligned with my values and who I am, then they're not good for me. And I have the ability to say no, which I didn't even know what my values were before I started Empowered Life.

Melissa:

I know. I love that so much. I think it's funny because I don't talk too much in my marketing of the program about values. And I did an entire season on the podcast about values because I think people have this idea, like, "Oh Lord, here we go. We're going to start looking at our values. It's going to be very corporate." And it's so the opposite, right? It's literally about... And the reason why we do it at the beginning is because it becomes an anchor for everything else. We use it for the anchor of goal setting. We use it for the anchor of coaching and self coaching. We use it for so many different things. And at the beginning, I feel like people are like, "Oh Lord, here she goes with values," but it's, honestly, the biggest game changer for making decisions and setting goals. If it's not a value, why are you setting goals around it?

Diana Gleason:

Yeah. Or why are you spending time on it or giving it any energy? If it's not aligned, then it's out.

Karen Marino:

And I agree too. I think that was, kudos to you again, Melissa, brilliant to start with that, because that is what really sucked me in. I loved that module. The way you have designed the group and the modules and how they've all built upon each other, that is what has been so amazing about it. And what has made sense and clicked with me, and I think with the other people in the group as well. That, I was literally ditto to what you said, Diana, about the values. I always have known, "Yes, this is important to me. Family's important to me. My friends are important to me," but being intentional about putting words to those values and the importance of that, and now, like you said, Diana, intentionally making decisions, and living my life, and doing the things each day around those values is such a difference and such a relief. It takes weight off of you as well when you can name it. It almost made it black and white. It was no more gray of like, "Oh yes, I love my family. I love my friends. Those things." Now it's more black and white of connection. So now I intentionally think about my day with that word wrapped around at all, which is great.

Melissa:

I think it just helps you also understand so much about yourself, right? Like, "Why do I like the things I like? Why do I not feel good in this situation? Why do I want to say no here, but I'm not sure how to?" And like you said, Diana, I feel like you have learned so well how to say no to the things that are not in alignment. And it's showing up in your business, right? It's allowing you to have the type of clients that you want and yearn for, and that you're building together in your business. And, but for that figuring out what you want your business to look and feel like, you just say yes to everybody.

Diana Gleason:

Exactly. Yeah. And you can't just say yes to everybody.

Melissa:

No.

Diana Gleason:

And sometimes, I think as entrepreneurs, we want to chase the money because that's what fuels the business. That's what helps us grow. That's what's our livelihood for our family. But if inside it's killing you slowly, is it worth it? And so getting really clear on those values, and making every life decision based on them, boom, changed my life.

Melissa:

I love it so much. It just makes me so happy. And I love seeing both of your businesses just flourish. And I do think, as working mamas, we do have to... It's like, when we say, "There's never enough time, there's never enough time." There is time. We have time, it's just deciding what exactly to do with it. And the values piece at the beginning allows for you to create time management skills without even realizing you're creating time management skills, right? It's just like there are so many byproducts that come from knowing your values, defining them, making sure they're in your calendar, making sure they're a part of your life. And like you said, Karen, empowering you to make the certain choices that you need to make. It's beautiful. I love it.

Diana Gleason:

Yeah.

Melissa:

All right. So what do you think or feel like was your biggest win? And then what was your smallest, right? Things that seem like, "Oh, that doesn't really feel like a win, but it is a win." And so I want to clarify for the podcast, we talk a lot about winning on an Empowered Life, and we go into why that's important. I get a little technical and we talk about our Reticular Activating System, and why looking for wins is so important, and how it helps with mindset, and stopping us from burning out. And so we spend a lot of time talking about why wins are important, and we post them in our private Facebook group. And so I thought it would be fun for the lassies to share what do they feel like are some wins they have had so that you guys can hear what they are.

Diana Gleason:

Yeah. So I would say, the small win in is finding the wins, because there were definitely weeks where you would encourage us to post in the Facebook group, our wins. And I'd be like, "Well, I don't have any." And then I'd read everyone else's, and then it would spark me, and I'd be like, "Oh, wait. No, that was a win. Or this was a win." The hours of just dedicated time without my phone with my children, watching a movie on Friday night, that was a win of my week, where I may not have acknowledged that. So yeah, so I think just finding the small... Not everything has to be, "I signed the biggest client of my entire business ever," which feels like the biggest win. Or buying a home, or the big things we tick off the list.

Diana Gleason:

I remember my husband and I having this conversation. It was New Year's Day, a few years ago. And it was me. I was in a bad head space, and I was like, "All the big wins are over." And at that time, I don't think I use wins. I probably said life events. I'm like, "We got married, we've had our children, we bought the home we're going to raise our children in. Now what? What else is there?" When you're young, those are the things you look forward to doing, getting engaged, planning the wedding, having a baby. These are big life milestones. And now I'm in my mid 30s going, "Well, we did all those. Now what? What do we do?" And it was a weird conversation. And now the flip in my brain is so different because I'm like, "We're just getting started. I just turned 39, and my life keeps getting better every day."

Melissa:

I love it.

Diana Gleason:

Do you know what I mean? And it's because I'm creating it. And it's because I realize now that I have the ability to create it and execute it. And literally, every module that we've done, every month we've worked on and group coached on, I've taken the notes and I have implemented. And it has created change in my life, and in my kids' lives, and my husband's life, and it's making the ripples. And that's the big win of it all, is just that everything's great. I mean, yeah. Are there hard days? Are there things that don't go as planned? There are still hard times, but my mindset has shifted to a way that I try not to even say the word hard anymore.

Melissa:

That's a bad word, by the way.

Diana Gleason:

And that comes from you, Melissa. 100%. When I hear hard come out of my mouth, I'm like, "No, no, no, no."

Melissa:

I love that so much. And it's so true. When I was away with Michael at the weekend, I joked with him and I was like, "Oh, I'm just stretching. I haven't really even got started yet with this company. I'm still stretching my arms out. Let's go." And I love that because I do think so much of what we work on is getting control of our brain and realizing the power that it can have over our life, realizing the thoughts, saying the word hard, all of those things and how they impact us, right? And not you guys believing me and saying, "Oh, whatever Melissa says is gospel." No, taking the work, trying it, and actually seeing the fruits of your labor. That's why it's called Empowered Life. It's not about me saying, "This is the only way you can do it." It is giving tools and saying, "Try it," but also giving you the power to see like, "Oh, this is how my brain works. This is a limiting belief I have. This is not a helpful thought. What would be a helpful thought?"

Melissa:

And thought resetting, and all those tools that you have, and then using them, however you need, whenever you need, right? And when I was designing the program, that was so important to me. I didn't want for results only to be based on when we did a one on one, or when we did a group call. I wanted there to be support, always of course, but more so, "Let's just empower people to believe that they can do it." And so, when I hear you saying, "Now, I know I can do this." Whoa, chills all over my body. Winning, that's winning, right?

Diana Gleason:

Yeah.

Melissa:

It just makes me so happy. And I just love watching you get in charge of your thoughts. And that makes me think about something I was thinking about the other day, and I know we've talked about it, but I think for the purposes of the podcast, it would be helpful, which is you have a therapist, and you also have a coach. And you are not the only one of my clients that have that. And I really love it when clients have that, because I feel like it's such a good mixture, but as someone who has both, and I also have both, what do you think is the biggest difference? Or why would you have a coach if you already had a therapist? Can you answer that?

Diana Gleason:

Yeah. And it's a question I had in even beginning to work with you because I'm like, "Well, I have this freaking amazing therapist that I talk to every Wednesday at 2:00. And she has helped me over the last three years." I'm a person who has carried a lot of anxiety in my life, and suffered PTSD, and she's helped me cope, and give me the tools that I didn't have. Helped me set boundaries, helped me find root causes to why there are those things and how to change them. And so I remember having a discovery call with you, like, "Well, what is life coaching? And what does that mean? And what's the difference? Because I have this great therapist, but I'm really attracted to what you're doing, but what is the difference?" And the difference, I think, is this.

Diana Gleason:

When I sit down and talk with my therapist, I literally can brain dump all over her, right? Like, "Okay, how was your week?" "Oh, well this happened. And that happened." And we can talk through it, and talk through the therapy side of it, tools, right? And there is some crossover. I'm not going to say that there's not, because there is. But I think in the life coaching side, and the way you have set up the program, I'm learning specific things, like thought detox, like thought reset, like Spear, like vote. I mean, there are specific things Melissa has created that are little tools and there's science around them. And so I was literally on vacation with my husband having a tough day about something with our kids. And she released this module called Spear. And it's about shooting a sphere where you wanted to go, and your unconscious thoughts, and then make your thoughts conscious, and what you want them to be.

Diana Gleason:

And I sat on the beach, and I put it on a piece of paper with my earbuds in, and I was crying. And my husband was like, "What the heck are you doing?" And I was so much clearer when I was done. So the difference is this. Is my therapist helpful? Oh, 110% has she helped me and does she continue to help me. But your tools are a little bit more tangible, where I'm like, "Okay, where am I in my brain? What do I need?" And then I'm literally able to go back to the workbook, pull out the thing, do the exercise that we might have done on something else. Or I might have done it three times and do it again to just get my mind right around it. It like, "Life coaching? It feels like life lessons." Right? I don't know if that helps.

Melissa:

I love it. No, it's true though. And I have done and developed all of those things after over a decade of doing my own work, right? And doing a lot of that internal work, and really trying to make it so fricking easy, right? The other thing I think about is, when I think about the clients I have, when I think about you and Karen, I think of busy, badass women, who have a lot going on in their life, beautiful big lives, powerful lives. And I didn't want to make this feel like, "Oh, this is so complicated. How would I even use this? I got to watch the video three times to understand it." I wanted to make it very impactful, but also easy and concise. And so, for the listener, like Spear is a self coaching model I designed. Vote is another model I designed for goal setting. And so I've designed things that are easy to remember. So if you're in car line, or you just taught a class at Bar Method, you have it in your brain as a tool that's easy to use. And so that was very important to me. I want you to use it on the beach when you're on vacation, when your thoughts are running wild. And you're like, "Wait, I'm on vacation. Why is my brain doing this?" But it just does sometimes. And you managed it, and you reset, and then that afternoon was great.

Diana Gleason:

And also sometimes my therapist may say to me the exact same thing that you said to me, but sometimes you have to hear it a little bit differently and a different frame of mind from a different person for that same thing to click.

Melissa:

Yeah.

Alright, lassies, that is a wrap for this part.  I hope you loved it, I hope you now know that entrepreneurs need life coaches – yes, they do, okay?  And Diana and Karen dropped so much knowledge that I have decided to split this episode into two, so please, please, consider coming back next week where you will hear more knowledge from these lassies on why it’s important for entrepreneurs to have a life coach. Have a great day.